Council house rent rise cut in half

Council bosses decided to split the difference and cut its council house rent increase in half on Tuesday.

It had decided on a rent increase of 4.9 per cent in March when the Government guideline was a 6.2 per cent increase.

The Government stepped in at the last minute when the bills were printed and urged councils across the country to increase rents by 3.1 per cent, offering to cough up the difference in income to the local authority.

Reading borough councillors decided to charge their proposed higher rent for 11 weeks while deciding how to recalculate and administer the change.

The cabinet decided on Tuesday that from week 11, the rent increase for all tenants would be halved.

On average, rents would be reduced by 2.45 per cent and be 2.45 per cent above last year’s levels.

The average rent would then become £83.62.

The changes only affect residential rents and not garage rents or service charges.